Safety controlling-gear for fluid-pressure engines.



PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

` E. GROWE. SAFETY GONTRO'LLING GEAR FORPLUID PRESSURE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l5, 1903.

NO MODEL.

I vl,

UNITED STATES Patented J' uly 19,` 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.3

yEDIARD CROVVE, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVYBROS., LIMITED, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND, AN INCORPO- v RATED COMPANY.

SAFETY CONTROLLlNG-GEAR FOR FLUID-PEESSURE ENGINES.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,561, dated July19, 1904.

Application iiled .Tune 15, 1903. .Serial No. 161,539. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD CROWE, engineer and chief draftsman, asubject of thevthe engine attains or exceeds a certain speed, and hasfor its object the prevention of breakdowns consequent on accidentalderangement or failure of the ordinary governing or controlling gear or(in the case of an engine controlled by hand) in consequence ofnegligence or inadvertence on the part of the enginedriver.

The apparatus consists of a stop-valve adapted to control the admissionof pressure to the engine, the spindle of the valve being connected to apiston working in a cylinder and which on pressure being admitted to thecylinder will open the stop-valve against aweight or its equivalent. Thepressure for thus opening the stop-valve may be steam or hydraulic orany other fluid-pressure, whichever may be most convenient. Theadmission of iiuidpressure to the cylinder is controlled by a valveworked by the engine attendant, and

on the pipe connecting this valve with the cylinder is placed anexhaust-valve, which on being opened will allow the pressure to escapefrom the cylinder and the weight to close the stop-valve. Y Thisexhaust-valve is maintained in its closed position by trip mechanismadapted to be released by the action of a centrifugal governor, which onthe engine attaining a certain predetermined limit of speed actuates thetrip-gear to permit the exhaustvalve to open under the stress of aweight or spring, thereby releasing the pressure from the stop-valvecylinder and allowing the stopvalve to be closed in order to stop theengine.

The trip-gear is so arranged that it may be readily reset and theexhaust valve closed again by the engine-driver. A

The accompanying drawing illustrates the general arrangement, wherein- Ais the main steam stop-valve of the engine.

B is the hydraulic cylinder, and C the `piston for operating thestop-valve A.

) is the hydraulic-presenre-supply pipe.

7 is the weight tending to close the valve A.

D is the lever for operating the slide-valve S, by means of which theengine-driver can open or close theV steam stop-valve A independently ofthe other part of the apparatus.

E is the connection to the exhaust controlled by the exhaust-valve F.

G is a lever connected to the exhaust-valve F for closing the same, andH is a rod connected to lever G and normally supported on' a trip-leverI for keeping the exhaust-valve closed to its seat. The trip-lever ispivoted at el and normally held against a stop la in position to supportrod H by a balance-weight K.

L is the disk of a centrifugal governor driven by the engine-shaft,andMis a weight pivoted to the disk at m and free to act by centrifugalforce against the spring N, the tension of which can loe adjusted sothat the weight M will Hy out when the engine has attained anypredetermined limit of speed and by striking the trip-lever displace itfrom its position and permit rod H to fall under the impulse of a weightR, whereby the valve F is opened. The fall of the weighted rod iscushioned by a spring r.

The action of the apparatus is as follows: All parts being in thepositions indicated on the drawing and on the engine attaining thepredetermined speed for which the governor is adjusted, the weight IWIwill fly out and move the trip-lever I, so that the end j', supportingthe rod H, will be removed and allow H to fall and open the valve F. Thepressure within cylinder B will then escape by means of pipe E to theexhaust and allow the weight W to close the stop-valve A. In order tostart the engine again, the lever G is raised, closing the valve F andallowing pressure to accumulate in B and open the valve A, assumingvalve S to be open to the admission. At the same time the Weight K willreturn the lever I to its original position and support the rod H, so asto keep the exhaust-valve closed. The valve A can be opened or closedindependently of this apparatus by means of valve S, actuated by thehand-lever D, the opening and closing of valve A being effected by theopening of valve S to the admission or exhaust, as the case may be.

I claim# l. The combination with a stop-valve adapted to be opened andheld open by Huid-pressure against an external force, of an exhaustvalvefor controlling the release of the fluidpressure to allow the stop-valveto close, a lever connected with the exhaust-valve, a rod secured to thelever, a counter-poised trip-lever With which the said rod engages, anda centrifugal governor for operating the triplever to permit theexhaust-Valve to open, as set forth. l

2. The combination With a stop-valve adapted to be opened and heldopenagainst an external force by Huid-pressure, of an exhaustvalve forcontrolling the release of the Huidpressure to alloW the stop-valve toclose, a lever connected With the exhaust valve, a weighted andcushioned rod secured to the lever, a Weighted trip-lever with which thesaid rod engages, and a centrifugal governor for operating thetrip-lever to permit the exhaustvalve to open, as set forth. g 3. Thecombination with a stop-Valve, a cylinder, a Huid-supply connected withthe cylinder, and a Weighted piston in the cylinder and connected withthe stop-valve, of an exhaust-valve arranged in the Huid-supply, a leverconnected with the exhaust-valve, a rod connected with the lever,anangular Weighted trip-lever upon one member of which the rod isadapted to rest, and acentrifugal governor lfor operating thetrip-lever, as set forth.

4. The combination with a stop-valve, a cylinder, a Weighted pistonWorking in a cylinder and connected with the stop-valve, a fluidpressurevalve, and a connection between the fluid-pressure valve and thecylinder, of an exhaust-valve arranged in the connection, a lever foroperating the exhaust valve, a Weighted rod secured to the said lever` apivoted and Weighted trip-lever With Which the said rod engages, and acentrifugal governor for operating the trip-lever, as set forth.

EDWARD CROWE.

Witnesses:

BAIN L. CAMPBELL, W. H. SLATER.

